The Waiting Period (Iddah) Upon Death in Islamic Sharia: A Concise Jurisprudential Study

Abstract

This concise jurisprudential study addresses the rulings of "Iddah (waiting period) upon death" in Islamic Sharia, aiming to correct widespread misconceptions and clarify the associated legal provisions. The research problem lies in the fact that many widows commit legal violations and prohibitions, are overly strict in matters of mourning (Ihdad), or spread superstitions regarding Iddah. The study confirmed that Iddah is a compulsory Islamic duty prescribed by God for great wisdom, including preserving lineage by preventing the mixing of men's semen in the wombs, fulfilling the wife's loyalty to her husband, and magnifying the sanctity of the marriage contract. The study also clarified the types of Iddah (pregnancy, menses/purity periods, months), and that the duration of Iddah upon death for a non-pregnant woman is four months and ten days, whether consummated or not. For a pregnant woman, the Iddah ends upon delivery. The woman in Iddah must observe Ihdad (mourning), which means abandoning perfume, adornment, and everything that invites marriage and men, with the obligation for her to reside in the marital home throughout the Iddah period. Permissible mourning is restricted to women only, either for a husband (obligatory) or a relative (three days). The study recommends the importance of religious awareness and disseminating these rulings to avoid mistakes.